Just a quick question--is there anyone out there that tows with one of these 1.6 diesel engine cars -- if so how does it cope, does it struggle in any way OR should we be looking more at the 2.2 model The spec says that the 1.6 can tow 1700 braked and we fully understand the 85% rule. We have a Bailey Ranger 510/4 with a max of 1237kg but it is never to the max at all. If someone could give us some pointers as to a yes or no we would really appreciate it.

cheers guys

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I have the 2.2 and it is a very good tug.
I read the 1.6 reviews with interest but although the 2 wheel drive 1.6 is tempting with the economy, the intelligent 4wd is great if on wet grass or winter driving especially with winter tyres.

We have asked ourselves the same question, and after doing a bit of research, both with the online tow car matching services, the caravan club and from speaking to a few people who own CRVs of both engine capacities, we have ordered a 2.2 SE in Orchid White Pearl, with delivery expected in around 3 weeks time.

Whilst the 1.6 may tow fine on the flat and handle motorway inclines with a bit of extra gearwork, the CRV is quite a heavy car for a 1.6 to handle even before you add the weight of the caravan in tow. I have driven the 2.2 with a 1400kg caravan hitched up, and it was a perfect tow, even with a steep hill to negociate, you hardly noticed it there.

One piece of advice is to shop around the dealerships, our local dealer was very frugal with the package he offered us to trade up, and we ended up shopping between 5 Honda dealerships before we settled with the one who we placed our order with, after he threw in a load of 'Extras' and matched the highest trade in price we had been offered for our Civic.

Just changed my car from a Honda CRV 2.2 to a Hyundai ix35.The Honda towed like a dream. It could tow in 6th but got better fuel economy if left in 5th. No idea how the ix35 tows but will find out soon, 1st trip end of Feb depending on weather

Nope it is not--all weighed before putting back in, we go through everything each year, if it is not used in the previous season then out it goes. I am a stickler with weights as our first car pulling the van was near to it's max. can never be too cautious.

The 2.2 is the better option for towing, especially as the weight of modern caravans is forever increasing. Having the 1.6 could seriously reduce the choice of suitable caravans should you decide to trade up in the future. Its a nice secure feeling to know that should you need the extra power on hill starts, headwinds, and steep roads that it will be there without question, and should you find yourself stuck on a muddy pitch, the 4x4 option is there to get you out of trouble.

Our 1.8 petrol Civic is a decent little towcar, but it lacks the guts to do hill starts easily when hitched up to our 1265kg Avante, and we have to carefully think out our route to avoid situations where we may be forced to stop on a steep hill. It would have been a big disapointment for us if we had gone for the 1.6 CRV, only to find that when hitched up, it was in fact no better at towing our caravan than our old Civic was. In the past, we once traded a Civic in for an Accord, but the Accords extra weight soon sapped up the extra power, and we found ourselves with no improvement in towing performance for our money.

On another note, im getting quite exited now, after placing our order in early January, our CRV has now arrived at the dealers, and yesterday l received the registration paperwork to sign, along with my new registration number, l could not believe my eyes when l read the end 3 letters, quite by chance, they are my daughters initials!

Looking forward to collecting it in around 10 days time when they have fitted the extras we ordered, will report back when we have taken it for a nice long test drive around the Derbyshire peaks, cannot wait.

my caravan is a 2004 bailey ranger 510/4 MTPLM 1237kg. There is no 1.9 they are only doing a 1.6 or a 2.2 in the diesels. We do more round town driving than towing, we camp quite close to home only venturing twice a year.

We will not be trading our van in--we will be keeping the one we have until it falls apart.

After weighing everything that goes in whenever we go away--we run at 1201-1205 kg so we are never near it's max.

my car is on motability and the deposits for the 1.6 are 1500 at this moment in time and the 2.2 is 2099 so money comes into it. We used to tow our van with the old bubble shape Picasso and that was very close top that cars max and it did a splendid job. I very much understand that the 2.2 is and would be the better option but we are towing less, more round town driving and 2 rugby lads to take everywhere we need economy too.

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